Mike Elko Has the Blue Devils Humming—but Can Duke Keep Him in Durham?

The first meeting between Nina King and Mike Elko came via a Zoom call in early December 2021. Elko was in Tampa recruiting, still the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M. King was sitting at a side table in her athletic director office at Duke, going through a round of early interviews.

Elko appeared on the screen wearing a button-down shirt. He’d gone shopping for one in Tampa before the call, a sartorial departure for a guy who prefers to live life in sweats. It was a small sign that he was serious about wanting the Duke job.

Elko has led Duke to a 14–6 record over his two seasons in Durham and has the Blue Devils at 5–2 entering Saturday’s matchup with Louisville. 

James Guillory/USA TODAY Sports